Sadly today was our last day on this fantastic trip. After trying for the Singing Bush Larks in the Jarziz area HERE and dipping we spent the rest of the day birding and boosting the trip list. The previous known record for a two week trip was 228 and we were on 226 so we got to work. We headed over to Khwar Raysut HERE and added Marsh Sandpiper and Peregrine to the list. Next stop was the Raysut Sewage works HERE where we got Sociable Lapwing HERE and then it was on to Khwar Al Qurm Al Sagheer HERE where we added Pacific Golden Plover and White-fronted Goose. We then went over to Salahal Nature Reserve HERE and re-located the Caspian Plover (top of the wish list) and then finished up at East Khwar HERE.
Final trip report HERE. I ended up on 228 and the group on 232 as I missed Arctic Skua, Menetries' Warbler, Blackcap and Bimaculated Lark. Can't be many locations in the Greater Western Palearctic where the diversity is so high.
An absolutely fantastic trip with so many highlights including the Arabian endemics, the Arabian Sea seabirds, the Arabian owls, the edge of range Indian and African birds, the wintering Palearctic migrants and wetland birds and gulls and it was great being in on the find of the first Paddyfield Pipit for Oman. We also found Olive-backed Pipit and Hume's Warbler and found a few Oman scarcities such as Water Rail, White-breasted Waterhen and Medium Egret and twitched other vagrants including Watercock, Black Heron, Syke's Nightjar, Caspian Plover and Yellow Bittern. While we were out there other birders found Siberian Rubythroat and we also dipped Red Collared Dove. Sadly it seems there were no sightings of Omani Owl anywhere this autumn despite intensive searching by various groups. The vagrancy potential for Indian and Afro-tropical rarites is unparalleled in the Greater Western Palearctic so we are already planning a return rarity hunting trip.
Oman does indeed rock.
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